Zip files are a compressed file format designed for easily packaging and distributing large multiple files in an efficient manner. In order to achieve this, an ISO image file has to be created–which dictates the data writing process for burned CD's and DVD's. Converting a zip file into an ISO image requires multiple programs, because there's no current solution available that allow the direct conversion of these file types. Fortunately, there are quite a number of programs that can be used to achieve this solution.
Decompress the Zip File
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Step 1
Open your Zip file in WinRAR by right-clicking it and selecting "Open with > WinRAR". WinRAR will start up, and a new window will display the software interface along with the contents of the zip file.
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Step 2
Click on the "Extract to" button at the top of the WinRAR interface. A new window will appear, titled "Extraction Path and Options".
Step 3
Select your extraction path by either typing it in the top text box or clicking the directory (on the right-side browser pane) you want to unzip the files into. Click on the "OK" button to extract your zipped file to your specified location.
Create an ISO Image
Step 1
Open UltraISO from the Start Menu. "Start > Program Files > UltraISO > UltraISO". The program will start up in a new window.
Step 2
Click "File > New > Data CD/DVD Image" to create a new ISO Image file. Use the file browser on the bottom half of the UltraISO interface to locate the extracted files from your original zip file.
Step 3
Click and select the extracted files, then drag them to the top pane of the UltraISO interface to place them into your ISO Image File. When you have finished placing all of the files into your ISO Image, click "File > Save" to save the changes. Type in a name for your image file, then click Save to finish creating the ISO Image.
Alternative Solution: Extract your files using 7-Zip
Step 1
Open your Zip file in 7-Zip by right-clicking it and selecting "7-Zip > Open Archive". The 7-Zip software will start up, and a new window will display the zip file contents in a table within the program's interface.
Step 2
Click the "Extract" button at the top of the 7-Zip interface. A new window will pop up in which you can choose the location of the file extraction. Click the "..." button next to the "Copy To:" text field to open a file browser for selecting the extraction directory.
Step 3
Click "OK" to extract the zip file. A small window will appear showing the status of your zip file decompressing, and will close when it is finished with the process.
Alternative Solution: Create an ISO Image File using MagicISO
Step 1
Open MagicISO from the Start Menu. "Start > Program Files > MagicISO > MagicISO". When the software starts up, create a new ISO Image by clicking "File > New > Data CD/DVD Image" from the top pull-down menu.
Step 2
Locate the extracted zip files which you want to place on your ISO Image. Use the bottom file browser pane in the software interface to navigate your hard drive folders.
Step 3
Click and drag the files which you want to put on your ISO Image file from the bottom file browser pane to the top empty pane on the software interface. The files will then be listed in this top pane, confirming that they will be put in the image file.
Step 4
Click "File > Save" when you are done adding files to your ISO Image to save your progress.